SOUNDS AROUND TOWN: ‘Yellow Submarine’ at The Center for Arts in Natick

By Ed Symkus, Correspondent

Wednesday

Jul 11, 2018 at 1:23 PM

As countless fairy tales have done before it, the movie “Yellow Submarine” opens with the words “Once upon a time ...” But after a pause, the narrator slyly adds, “or maybe twice.” And so begins the almost half-century-old animated, pun-laden and psychedelically charged adventure of the Beatles as they journey from Liverpool to Pepperland, a one-time “unearthly paradise” where music played, flowers bloomed, and children danced, that has become a realm populated by people who have been turned to stone after an attack by the music- and love-hating Blue Meanies and their minions of Bonkers, Clowns, and Snapping Turks ... and the Dreadful Flying Glove. Only John, Paul, George, and Ringo – and their music – can help!

Based on the childlike title song that hit the number 2 spot on American charts in the summer of 1966, the film was initially released in England in July, 1968, and in the U.S. four months later. It returns, for a 50th anniversary run, at The Center for Arts in Natick, from July 14-18, with screenings hosted by one of its animators, Ron Campbell.

Confession: I saw “Yellow Submarine” first run, when I was a tyke, predating any personal drug experimentation. That’s probably why I still remember that viewing, though the memories are mostly of vivid colors, weird matchups of animation and still photos, lots of silly characters and, of course, the music.

Watching it again last week, still a hardcore Beatles fan after all these years, it was a different experience. I noted the simplicity of the story, realized, to my chagrin, that having been dazzled by the sophisticated computer animation of the past 20 years, the quaintness of “Yellow Submarine’s” clunky hand-drawn animation technique, while still sometimes dazzling, just wasn’t as charming now. That’s my loss; others who watched with me said they were completely caught up in it.

But there was plenty about it that I still grooved on. The art direction is wild and imaginative, from the drabness of Liverpool to the vibrancy of Pepperland (before it’s attacked) and the eccentricity of the landscapes the Beatles-filled flying submarine passes through. The dialogue, done up in Liverpool accents by actors portraying the Beatles, is sometimes hard to understand, and sometimes resplendently witty. Ringo, tugging on a mechanical lever, mentions that he’s “a born lever-puller.” (Liverpooler, get it?) Later, when he sees the creature from “Frankenstein,” he says, “I used to go out with his sister, Phyllis.” (Philistine ... Ha!). Late in the film, a Blue Meanie looks at a Beatle and says, “Are you Blueish? You don’t look Blueish?” That line is credited to Erich Segal; yes, the same Erich Segal who two years later wrote “Love Story,” but was a co-scripter on this.

Then there’s the timeless music, all spruced up with a remix and 5.1 surround sound (also, the visuals have been restored in 4K digital resolution). Accompanied by George Martin’s alternately sprightly, celebratory, and scary original score, the songs, most of which have nothing to do with the film’s story, include the gloomy “Eleanor Rigby,” the whimsical “When I’m 64,” the hard-to-tap-along-to “All You Need Is Love” (it’s in 7/4 time), and the psychedelic “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (which provides an ideal opportunity for words and images to match up, but there’s nary a newspaper taxi in sight). Among the songs written specifically for the film are the rocking out “Hey Bulldog,” the feedback-heavy, searing “It’s All Too Much,” and the goofy “All Together Now.”

So, what’s the best reason for going out to see “Yellow Submarine?” There are a few of them: It’s always fun to look at, even if some of the imagery is dated. You become aware of the fact that there are also blue, pink, and green submarines. You can enjoy the rare treat of sitting in a dark room, surrounded by Beatles fans, listening to the music you all love, and perhaps even singing along together.

“Yellow Submarine” is at The Center for Arts in Natick from July 14-18, with participation by animator Ron Campbell. For info and a complete schedule, visit www.natickarts.org.

Upcoming concerts and club dates

July 14:

The duo of fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahill bring some traditional Irish music to Club Passim in Cambridge. (7:30 and 10 p.m.)

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